upon mounds of
earth, [Greek: lophoi mastoeideis], and sacred to Hanes; [Greek: Titanis]
and [Greek: Titanes] are compounds of Tit-Hanes; and signify literally
[Greek: mastos heliou], the conical hill of Orus. They were by their
situation strong, and probably made otherwise defensible.

In respect to the legends about dragons, I am persuaded that the antients
sometimes did wilfully misrepresent things, in order to increase the
wonder. Iphicrates related, that in Mauritania there were dragons of such
extent, that grass grew upon their backs: [303][Greek: Drakontas te legei
megalous, hoste kai poan epipephukenai.] What can be meant under this
representation but a Dracontium, within whose precincts they encouraged
verdure? It is said of Taxiles, a mighty prince in India, and a rival of
Porus, that, upon the arrival of Alexander the Great, he shewed him every
thing that was in his country curious, and which could win the attention of
a foreigner. Among other things he carried him to see a [304]Dragon, which
was sacred to Dionusus; and itself esteemed a God. It was of a stupendous
size, being in extent equal to five acres; and resided in a low deep place,
walled round to a great height. The Indians offered sacrifices to it: and
it was daily fed by them from their flocks and herds, which it devoured at
an amazing rate. In short my author says, that it was treated rather as a
tyrant, than a benevolent Deity. Two Dragons of the like nature are
mentioned by [305]Strabo; which are said to have resided in the mountains
of Abisares, or Abiosares, in India: the one was eighty cubits in length,
the other one hundred and forty. Similar to the above is the account given
by Posidonius of a serpent, which he saw in the plains of _Macra_, a region
in Syria; and which he styles [306][Greek: drakonta peptokota nekron]. He
says, that it was about an acre in length; and of a thickness so
remarkable, as that two persons on horseback, when they rode on the
opposite sides, could not see one another. Each scale was as big as a,
shield; and a man might ride in at its mouth. What can this description
allude to, this [Greek: drakon peptokos], but the ruins of an antient
Ophite temple; which is represented in this enigmatical manner to raise
admiration? The plains of Macra were not far from Mount Lebanon and Hermon;
where the Hivites resided; and where serpent-worship particularly
prevailed. The Indian Dragon above mentioned seems to have been of the s